My Life As A Screenwriter: October 22, 2007

FADE IN

INT. RACE CAR - DAY
The driver flips the starter switch.  750 horses kickstart to life and roar.  The entire vehicle shakes as he pumps the gas pedal.  This is TODD.

TODD
(flips up helmet visor)
Although my name is Gordon, and despite the lie I told the Target clerk checking out my I.D., I am not related to Jeff... but I do like to write fast.

Todd slams the shifter into gear, pops the clutch and does a brake stand in the Target parking lot.

TODD
I think it is important when doing a rough draft to institute what I like to call Verbal Diarrhea.  Just get everything in your head down, don't worry about structure yet.  If you are having fun letting your characters talk, then let them go on and on for pagesas you can edit later.  Or you are working out a chase sequence, why not let them race all over town?

EXT. TARGET STORE - PARKING LOT - DAY
The race car's smoldering tires catch the pavement and rocket the car across the lot, sideswiping a shopping cart.

INT. RACE CAR
Todd fights to control the skidding car.  He wrenches the wheel to the left, skating by a Lexus parked in the Manager's spot with inches to spare.

TODD
Yes, as I said, I like to move fast in the initial stages of screenwriting a script, but it's the rewrite process that bogs me down.  I tend to become overtly critical of myself, thinking there is always a better line or a more apt description just around the corner...

A semi truck fills the windshield.  Todd cranks the wheel hard right...

EXT. CITY STREET - RACE CAR
The race car bounces over a curb into a Toys R Us lot and steams toward a stunned EMPLOYEE dressed in a clown suit.

INT. RACE CAR
Todd downshifts and keeps the car aimed at the clown.

TODD
I am learning that it is quantity versus quality fresh off the starting line, and it is the constant pit stops for adjustments and tweaks over a steady race that determine how great a racer you are.  But, that race does have a pre-determined number of laps and if you find yourself circling around the track on Lap 787 of a 500 lap race, then maybe you need to get your vehicle into another race... because the fans went home.

The car SMACKS into the clown...

EXT. RACE CAR
The clown SMASHES face first into the windshield and rolls up and over the roof of the race car.

INT. RACE CAR
Todd taps the brakes and slows for a GRANDMOTHER crossing the walkway with a metal rocker.

TODD
When is that remake of Death Race coming out?  Anyway, what I am working on today is some cutting and pasting, shuffling a few of those fast written scenes around trying to make some logical linear sense to them now.  Creating some transitions linking them up...

Todd grins, hits the gas and powershifts throught the gears.  The speedometer needle climbs to 90.  Todd opens the door and --

INT. CAR SHOWROOM - DAY
Todd exits an Impala SS and takes a brochure from a SALESMAN, moves toward the exit door.

TODD
Yep, it's all about the transitions, baby...

FADE OUT